WGOLF Preview: Two State Qualifiers Look to Make a Serious Push

The Women's Golf campaign is underway for the 2022 season and the field is filled with teams and individual standouts who can have a serious impact on the end-of-season CCCAA State Championships.

There are plenty of familiar faces throughout the OEC following a very successful 2021 season that saw a pair of teams (Orange Coast and Saddleback) qualify for the state finals, as well as a handful of individual standouts from other teams in the conference.

For the aforementioned Pirates and defending OEC champion Bobcats, both teams have a pair of returning members from last year's state finals.

For the Bobcats, they enter 2022 ready to defend their conference crown and are led by the 1-2-3 punch of Nicole Whipple, Lia Harvey and Kenzie Edson. All three return with state finals experience after leading Saddleback to a state runner-up finish.

For OCC, keep a sharp eye on the sophomore duo of Meah Collins and Emma Ashcraft. Both finished in the top-25 in the state last year and both have the ability to shoot in the 70s on any given course.

College of the Desert's Demi Preece earned a top-20 finish at the state finals last year and the sophomore standout will look for even bigger things in 2022.

Among the several newcomers to OEC women's golf circuit to watch for this year include Fullerton College's Catherine Lee, who, after the first two events, leads all competitors with a 75.5 scoring average after carding a 73 at Ironwood and a 78 at Soboba Springs. Hornet teammate Ylianna Fernandez (86-77) also adds talent to FC's young lineup.

Mt. San Antonio College's Kayla Loera looks to have a strong 2022 season and is off to a solid start, carding an 82 and 78 in her first two matches, good for fourth-lowest in the OEC.

The OEC championships are set to kick off on Oct. 24.

Release by Tony Altobelli, OCC SID